lunar month?

Question

is a lunar month the length of time it takes a moon to go through a complete cycle of phases?

Answer 1

It's the time between two identical moon phases e.g. full moons, on average:

29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds

Just been teaching it at school

Answer 2

yes.

More specifically, from New Moon to New Moon (a synodic month -- average duration is 29.530589 Earth-days of 86,400 seconds each.

In the Muslim calendar, the first day of the lunar month is the first day on which it is theoretically possible to see the real new crescent moon (usually on the Moon's second day after the instant of New Moon). A year is exactly 12 lunar months as observed. (The Muslim year is shorter than the tropical year used in other calendars).

In the Chinese calendar, the lunar month begins on the day of New Moon (Chinese time). The number of months in a year depends on when the year begins (the second New Moon after the December solstice).

In other lunar or luni-solar calendars, the length of the lunar months follow an established cycle that, over around 19 years, keeps the calendar close enough to the real time of New Moon (the real New Moon could be a few hours before or after the day on which the calendar month begins). The years follow an established cycle of 12 and 13 months per year, over 19 years.

Answer 3

yes, a complete cycle including the days there is no moon.

Answer 4

ys